source: cispes
Popular movement organizations, relatives, and defense attorneys held a press conference on June 10 to demand the release of the leaders of the Alliance for a Peaceful El Salvador, who have remained imprisoned without trial since May 2024. They were arrested without warrants in the days leading up to the inauguration of Bukele's unconstitutional second term as president, under accusations of terrorism. The group had previously organized peaceful protests against the Bukele government and had announced plans to protest the inauguration.
Speakers emphasized that the latest extension on the pre-trial period granted to the Attorney General's Office expires on June 14 and noted that, despite nearly two years of investigation, prosecutors have yet to present evidence supporting the charges. Reading a joint statement on behalf of social organizations, Lourdes Palacios of the Committee of Family Members of Political Prisoners (COFAPPES) described the case as one built on "false evidence" and called for the immediate release of the detained Alliance members.
Participants urged the First Organized Crime Court to promptly schedule a hearing once the current deadline expires. According to family members and attorneys, repeated prosecutorial requests for extensions have prolonged the case while the accused remain in detention. The COFAPPES statement argued that prosecutors have repeatedly sought additional time "to find evidence that does not exist." Defense attorney Guillermo García explained that the current investigative extension expires on June 14 and that prosecutors were required to request any further extension at least fifteen days before that date. Because no such request has been filed, he said, the Attorney General's Office will soon be required to either file a formal indictment or seek dismissal of the charges against the Alliance members.
Speakers also raised concerns about the deteriorating health of several detainees, particularly José Santos "Pepe" Melara. García reported that a long-awaited medical report on Melara's condition was finally submitted to the court this week, arguing that there is no longer any justification for denying him alternative measures while the case proceeds. Family members of José Atilio Montalvo, who was granted conditional release in 2025 after suffering a severe health crisis in prison, warned that Melara should not be forced to endure similar circumstances. "We call for justice so that José Santos Melara does not suffer what happened to my father," said Montalvo's daughter.
According to relatives, Montalvo's health significantly deteriorated during his imprisonment and he now suffers from severe kidney failure, heart failure, hypertension, and diabetes. The COFAPPES statement warned that several of the detained Alliance members are older adults living with chronic illnesses and that some "could die in prison" if their conditions continue to worsen without adequate care. Organizations participating in the press conference called on the court to act on both legal and humanitarian grounds by granting release or alternative measures and finally allowing the case to proceed to a hearing.
Here’s some of what participants said during the press conference:
- Lourdes Palacios, COFAPPES:
Two years ago, Atilio Montalvo, José Santos Melara, Alfonso Mira, Roberto Esquivel, Eliseo Segura, Ismael Santos, Wilfredo Paredes, and Carlos Mejía—leaders of the National Alliance for a Peaceful El Salvador, a coalition of former Salvadoran military veterans and former FMLN combatants—were arbitrarily detained. Community leader and communicator Luis Alberto Menjívar was also arrested.
The arrests took place between May 30 and June 3, 2024, on the eve of the unconstitutional inauguration of President Nayib Bukele's second term. Authorities lured them into custody under false pretenses and falsely accused them of planning terrorist acts.
The investigative report "Cardboard Terrorists for Bukele," published in October 2025 by Gato Encerrado and later reproduced by several independent media outlets, confirmed that this case was fabricated. According to the investigation, the prosecution relied on false evidence and a witness who was allegedly in two places at the same time—El Salvador and Mexico.
There are numerous indications that the accusations lack credibility. The circumstances of the arrests and the evidence presented by the National Civil Police point to inconsistencies and apparent fabrication
Only Atilio Montalvo was granted alternative measures in July 2025 after spending thirteen months in prison. The others remain incarcerated despite suffering from serious medical conditions, including diabetes, kidney failure, hypertension, and other chronic illnesses. One of the most critical cases is that of José Santos "Pepe" Melara, a former legislator and human rights defender committed to democracy and constitutional rule.
In the absence of evidence, the Attorney General's Office has repeatedly sought extensions to prolong the investigation in an effort to find evidence that does not exist. The latest extension expires on June 14.
We therefore demand that the First Organized Crime Court of San Salvador immediately schedule a hearing and order the release of the detainees, or at minimum grant alternative measures that would allow them to continue the proceedings outside of prison.
Our demand is based on both legality and humanity. Legality, because these arrests were arbitrary and the accusations lack credible evidence. Humanity, because the health of the detainees continues to deteriorate, and some may die in prison if their conditions are not properly addressed.
We urge the court to act in accordance with justice, the rule of law, and humanitarian principles. We demand freedom for Pepe, Alfonso, Eliseo, Roberto, Ismael, and all veterans and former combatants who remain imprisoned. Their only "crime" was denouncing abuses of power, human rights violations, and attacks on the Constitution. That is not a crime and should never be punished.
We also raise our voices today on behalf of human rights attorney Ruth Eleonora López, who has been imprisoned for more than a year. We call for her immediate release and urge the court to implement the precautionary measures recommended by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in September 2025.
According to public reporting, the case against López lacks legal merit and her health remains fragile following a recent medical procedure. Her family was reportedly not informed about the intervention, and she was quickly returned to prison despite requiring specialized care.
We likewise demand freedom for constitutional lawyer Enrique Anaya, whose detention reflects the broader political persecution taking place in the country. We also call for the release of Fidel Zavala, Eugenio Chicas, Giovanni Aguirre, and all political prisoners. According to Cristosal's March report The Price of Dissent in El Salvador, there are currently at least 86 political prisoners and 245 documented cases of political persecution in the country.
We call for an end to political persecution and urge Salvadoran society and the international community to strengthen their demands for justice and freedom.
The recent acquittal of the Santa Marta community leaders demonstrates that truth and justice can still prevail, even under difficult circumstances.
Freedom for the leaders of the National Alliance for a Peaceful El Salvador.
Freedom for all political prisoners in El Salvador.
End political persecution in El Salvador.
Freedom for the innocent.
- Atilio Montalvo's Daughter
As the family of José Atilio Montalvo, we would like to provide an update on my father's health. As many of you know, in July of last year, after suffering a severe health crisis while in prison that nearly cost him his life, the court granted him conditional release.
We also want to express our solidarity with the families of Eliseo Segura, Carlos Mejía, Roberto Esquivel, José Ismael Santos, Alfonso Mira, Luis Menjívar, and José Santos Melara.
In particular, we want to call for justice so that José Santos Melara does not go through what my father experienced. We do not want his serious medical conditions to worsen until he is forced into a life-threatening situation before receiving relief. My father left prison gravely ill after his health deteriorated dramatically while in custody.
We hope that the chronic illnesses suffered by the other detained Alliance members are properly treated. Most of them are older adults living with serious health conditions. We stand with their families and share their concern.
These past two years have been extremely difficult. For two years, our loved ones have remained imprisoned. Families have been unable to see them, and even their legal representatives have faced obstacles in maintaining contact with them. These conditions make it impossible to guarantee a fair judicial process.
We are calling on the judge to act. On June 14, the latest extension requested by the Attorney General's Office expires. We urge the court to immediately schedule a hearing.
We continue to maintain that my father is innocent of all charges against him, and we hope that once a hearing is finally held, he and all members of the National Alliance for a Peaceful El Salvador will receive a definitive dismissal of the case.
It is important to remember how these arrests occurred. The authorities used deception to detain each of them. José Santos Melara was lured out of his home over a dispute involving a dog. Roberto Esquivel, a military veteran, was told he was needed in connection with a traffic accident. My father was told that authorities simply wanted to ask him a few questions. Similar tactics were used against the others who remain imprisoned today.
They were detained through deception and then prosecuted under the state of exception.
For two years, the Attorney General's Office has repeatedly requested extensions. Our message to the court is simple: schedule the hearing and dismiss the charges against my father and the other Alliance members.
I would also like to update the public on my father's medical condition. Medical reports submitted to the Organized Crime Court show that his kidney failure has worsened significantly. His heart failure is now classified as severe, his hypertension has become severe, and he continues to suffer from diabetes. These illnesses have progressed dramatically as a result of the year and two months he spent in prison. The outcome was nearly fatal. We hope the other detained Alliance members do not suffer the same fate.
We thank all of the social organizations, veterans, and supporters who have stood with our families throughout this process.
Freedom for political prisoners.
Freedom for the veterans of the National Alliance for a Peaceful El Salvador.
Freedom for José Santos Melara.
They were taken alive—we want them back alive.
- David Jovel (FMLN War Veterans)
On behalf of the FMLN war veterans, we demand the immediate release of all members of the National Alliance for a Peaceful El Salvador.
Prior to the arrests, the Alliance had publicly announced a series of peaceful activities that were to take place during President Bukele's inauguration. The authorities were aware of those plans. Nevertheless, they proceeded to arrest most of the Alliance's leadership.
From that point forward, a false narrative was constructed around the case. The accusations are entirely fabricated. The arrests were part of a broader effort to suppress any form of protest or dissent against Bukele's unconstitutional reelection.
Two years later, these leaders remain imprisoned. Many are suffering from serious health conditions, as we have already heard today. For that reason, we once again call on the Bukele government to release all imprisoned members of the National Alliance for a Peaceful El Salvador.
Freedom for political prisoners.
- Rafael Paz Narváez (Critical Thought University Movement / Popular Resistance and Rebellion Bloc)
Today we join the call for freedom for the members of the National Alliance for a Peaceful El Salvador who have been unjustly imprisoned.
As a university movement, we also want to draw attention to students and university community members who have been detained for political reasons.
We specifically demand the release of Luis Alberto Menjívar, a social communicator and sociology student who was close to completing his degree when he was arrested alongside the Alliance leaders.
We also call for the release of Giovanni Maravilla, who remains imprisoned after denouncing electoral irregularities. There can be no genuinely democratic electoral process when people who expose irregularities are criminalized and jailed.
Likewise, we demand freedom for Giovanni Aguirre, a former sociology student and labor organizer who was detained for advocating for the rights of municipal workers in San Salvador. Today, his whereabouts remain unknown, making him effectively a victim of enforced disappearance within the prison system.
We demand freedom for all political prisoners in El Salvador.
- Luis Rivera (Movement for the Defense of the Working Class)
Today we stand in solidarity with the members of the National Alliance for a Peaceful El Salvador. The judicial phase of this case is nearing its conclusion, and we call on the courts to uphold not only legality but also justice.
The cases of Atilio Montalvo, José Santos Melara, and others demonstrate the severe consequences of prolonged detention for individuals with serious health conditions. We ask that the upcoming hearing be conducted in accordance with the law and that the rights of the accused be respected.
In many Organized Crime Court cases, detainees are effectively required to be on the verge of death before courts consider granting release. We reject that standard.
We call for the rule of law to be respected and for the Alliance members to be released.
- Samuel Ramírez (Movement of Victims of the Regime – MOVIR)
We are here to express our solidarity with the members of the National Alliance for a Peaceful El Salvador, who have now spent two years imprisoned without having been proven guilty of any crime. If, after two years, the authorities have not been able to demonstrate that these individuals committed a crime, that speaks for itself.
MOVIR cannot remain silent in the face of these injustices. The Alliance leaders are victims of the state of exception and of political persecution. They were criminalized for defending the rights of veterans and former combatants and for speaking out against human rights violations and abuses of power.
We demand that these cases move forward and that the accused finally have the opportunity to appear before a judge and prove their innocence.
We call for due process and transparency. The public deserves answers about why so many people remain imprisoned without evidence, without fair proceedings, and in many cases without any demonstrated connection to criminal activity.
We also call on the international community, human rights organizations, and democratic governments around the world to pay close attention to what is happening in El Salvador.
We demand freedom for the members of the National Alliance for a Peaceful El Salvador, for Ruth López, for Enrique Anaya, and for all those imprisoned under the state of exception without evidence or due process.
Freedom for the innocent.
- Alfredo Leiva (Santa Marta Community)
The Santa Marta Community stands in solidarity with the families and organizations demanding freedom for the members of the National Alliance for a Peaceful El Salvador.
We know what it means to face politically motivated prosecutions. Five members of our community were unjustly arrested, and throughout that process we found support in spaces like this one.
That is why we believe it is essential to continue demanding freedom for all political prisoners. It is also necessary to defend the rule of law and protect the ability of social organizations to continue advocating for justice.
We would also like to mention Eugenio Chicas, who was an important witness in the Santa Marta case. We believe the arrests of Santa Marta leaders were intended to clear the way for mining interests seeking to develop destructive projects in our communities.
We also express our solidarity with Ruth López, who stood alongside us in opposing mining and advocating for environmental justice.
For all political prisoners in El Salvador, we demand freedom.
- Guillermo García (Defense Attorney for José Santos Melara and Luis Alberto Menjívar)
My name is Guillermo García, and I serve as defense counsel for José Santos Melara Llanes and Luis Alberto Menjívar.
I would like to report that yesterday we submitted to the First Organized Crime Court the medical report that the court itself had previously requested but had not yet received. The court initially sought the report from Rosales National Hospital; however, after Mr. Melara was transferred and received treatment at Zacamil Hospital, the report was never forwarded to the court.
As a result, the defense formally requested the records through the Ministry of Health's Access to Public Information Unit on May 15, 2026. Only through that process were we finally able to obtain the medical report and submit it to the court ourselves yesterday.
In light of this, there is no longer any justification for delaying a decision on alternative measures for José Santos "Pepe" Melara. The court now has before it the medical information it requested.
We have also been informed that the Attorney General's Office has effectively run out of time.
The current investigative extension expires on June 14. Under the law, prosecutors had to request any further extension at least fifteen days before the deadline. As of today, no such request has been filed, and the law does not authorize additional extensions in this case.
Therefore, we expect that no later than five days after June 15, the Attorney General's Office must either file a formal indictment or request the dismissal of the charges against the members of the National Alliance for a Peaceful El Salvador.
Once that filing is made, the defense will have the opportunity to review and respond to the prosecution's case. We will finally be able to examine whatever evidence the Attorney General's Office intends to present.
As has already been noted, there is very little evidence to examine.
This case exposes the profound deficiencies in El Salvador's justice system. The eyes of the international community are on the hearing that will eventually take place, because the individuals accused in this case are innocent.
Freedom for political prisoners. They were taken alive; we want them back alive.
